Wednesday, December 30, 2009

I kept hearing the Willie Nelson song as I posted this - thus the title. Winter trees (must be an 'X' or two in this photo) and sky by Ascension Lutheran Church & Preschool (a most excellent one) on Silver Spur Rd.Join the abc Wednesday bloggers around the world.

Monday, December 28, 2009

The back of San Gabriel Mts (from small private airport in Llano, CA). Above Crystalaire airport (taken last March during my 1-of-2 rides in a glider). The band "above" the airstrip is the California aquaduct.Moon over Saddleback-like mountain.

Check out all of Alieni's Monochrome Weekly submissions by clickinghere .

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The guys purchased an expensive new (but old) toy earlier this year - a 1971 Glasflügel H-201B Standard Libelle sailplane (or glider). They are off to Crystalaire today to fly in chilly weather (below freezing at 9 am).

Saturday, December 26, 2009

I like the day after Christmas - time to kick-back, relax & eat pumpkin pie for breakfast and lots of other leftovers, maybe even share some. Today is overcast here - unbelievable, I know - so this photo is from last December of a tropical pine in our complex.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

... "just like the ones I used to know, where the car-tops glisten???" - not quite what I had in mind but the busy Peninsula Center parking lot does look festive to me. However, for a real Winter Wonderland treat, head East to Antjas' Sudbury Daily Photo.Back in the neighborhood, Amy encountered an uncertain doorman.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Sunrise over Saddleback Ridge of the Santa Ana Mountains (looking South-East from PV). The photo is taken where Flaming Arrow Dr. intersects the crest of Longhill Dr. by Soleado Elementary School (which my son used to attend.) Most of PV schools have amazing views. The reflection is on the rooftop of my not-so-clean car.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Yesterday's buzzard and three others were circling a wash. As I approached the edge, I spotted a gaggle of wild (probably Canada) geese that immediately took to flight (becoming according to Wikipedia a flock of geese. So the vultures and I had the same luck with the capture. Except that I could point and shoot and shoot in their general direction and ...

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

...from the 110 or Harbor Freeway, taken on Sunday (12-13-09)."On Wednesday, August 2, 1769, Father Juan Crespi, a Franciscan priest accompanying the first European land expedition through California, led by Captain Fernando Rivera Y Moncado, described in his journal a "beautiful river from the northwest" located at "34 degrees 10 minutes." They named the river Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de la Porciúncula. In the Franciscan calendar, August 2 was the day of the celebration of the feast of the Perdono at the tiny Assisi chapel of St. Francis of Assisi. Early in St. Francis’ life, the Benedictines had given him this tiny chapel for his use near Assisi. The chapel, ruined and in need of repair, was located on what the Italians called a porziuncola or "very small parcel of land." Painted on the wall behind the altar was a fresco of the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels. Now contained within a Basilica, the chapel was named Saint Mary of the Angels at the Little Portion. The newly discovered "beautiful river" was named in honor of this celebration and this chapel. In 1781, a new settlement was established along that river. The settlement came to be known as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciúncula or The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of the Little Portion although its official name was simply El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles." [Ref. Los Angeles Almanac]

Monday, December 14, 2009

...always get me down?"... Not really. On Saturday, we had the much needed rain. Since it rains so rarely, I think most everyone in the LA area enjoys it. Except on the freeways. They are usually a mess when it rains.

Check out all of Alieni's Monochrome Weekly submissions by clicking here .

Friday, December 11, 2009

West Coast: Neighborhood Church (former Haggerty Mansion), 1925, Palos Verdes Estates (12-2009) East Coast: Flagler Collage (former Ponce De Leon Hotel built in 1885-1887 by Henry M. Flagler, the hotel and railroad magnate), St. Augustine, Florida (12-2009). The hotel was built in the Spanish Renaissance style and was the first major edifice in the US to be constructed of poured concrete, a mixture of cement, sand and coquina shell. (Note: This one is definitely worth clicking on to enlarge to see the amazing details.)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A tragic death occured on a quiet street in Rolling Hills Estates, where a prominant LA lawyer, Mr. Jeffrey Tidus, was found shot by his home on Monday evening and died Tuesday morning. The police are still trying to determine what happened. I am, and I'm sure the whole community is, stunned and saddened by this news.

The news reports that Mr. Tidus was a marathon runner. As a tribute to him and with deep condolences to his family, I am posting this sculpture of a runner. The artwork was created by Mr. Derby L. Ulloa's (Florida artist and art instructor) and it resides in front of the Hyatt hotel in downtown Jacksonville, Florida on the Northbank Riverwalk.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Today, after a good rain yesterday that left some snow on the local mountains, it is again clear and sunny; and looks like this photo that I took a couple weeks back from Covecrest Dr, just above our neighborhood. The view is of the Santa Monica (or South) Bay, toward Santa Monica.I'll be adding a smaller photo of the fall color - Southern California style - with flowers and turning leaves both. The same Sweetgum tree as I posted last week, provided this color.

Monday, December 7, 2009

The Gardner building at the Malaga Cove Plaza at twilight.Palos Verdes Library District - Local History Collection voluneers have done a wonderful job scanning all the hisorical photos and posting them on Flicker: the Gardner building in 1925.Check out all of Alieni's Monochrome Weekly submissions here.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Our son is piloting the far glider at about 10,000 feet above Mt. Lewis on the lee side of the San Gabriel mountains, with view of high dessert toward Palmdale. I'd like to thank the Southern California Soaring Academy for this special picture.

Friday, December 4, 2009

I came home from Jacksonville, Fl. last night and found this fun and eye-catching piece of public art in the airport.http://jiaarts.org/gottago.htmlJacksonville International Airport Permanent Art CollectionGotta Go, Gordon Huether, 2008"Artist Gordon Huether of Napa, California was commissioned by the Jacksonville International Airport Arts Commission to produce Gotta Go for Concourses A and C. Huether states: "Through the use of monumental imagery and utilizing the kinetic, color shifting properties of dichroic acrylic, we've created Gotta Go, an art piece full of constant discovery for travelers who use Jacksonville International Airport on a regular basis. This installation enhances Jacksonville's reputation as a city where culture and the arts are vibrant and alive, where people Gotta Go."

Thursday, December 3, 2009

"These watercolor paintings were inspired by David Hockney's swimming pool works. The students studied warm and cool colors and used watercolors and colored pencils to emphasize visual texture." Artwork by Dapplegray Elementary School, 4th Grade, Mrs. Loewner's class on display at La Salsa restaurant."Art at Your Fingertips is a Palos Verdes Art Center school-based program. Founded in 1975, this volunteer program annually brings quality visual arts education to nearly 7,000 elemenatry school students at the public and private schools on the Palos Verdes Peninsula."

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

About a year ago, Laurie of Glimpses of South Pasadena challenged the local bloggers to find the best craftsman style house in their city ... I finally found this pretty, somewhat "craftsmanish" house in the Valmonte neighborhood of PVE.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Sometimes the best SkyWatch Friday occurs on a Friday! Post Thanksgiving Day sunset over Bluff Cove from a lookout on Via Monte Mar - even the pelicans cooperated, making the first of many shots the best one.I'll be travelling next week and will auto-post. I hope to be able to connect and visit your blogs.